The Lenny DiNardo Blog

OakLen: Reactions from Around the Web

We at the LD Blog are certainly disappointed to lose Lenny to the West Coast. I've pulled some of the reaction from around the web below. For all you Oakland fans logging in (thanks for the link, random commenter at Athletics Nation -- though, to be fair, my favorite A's blog name has to be the Athletic Supporters over at MVN with Evan)

First, Jeff Horrigan, the man who gave this blog its first big exposure, had this to say about Lenny's Departure ("Lenny D is now an A")

One of the friendliest and most cerebral players ever to wear a Boston uniform, DiNardo has a passion for rock music and developed deep friendships with many musicians he met in Boston, including members of the Gentlemen, Buffalo Tom, the Dropkick Murphys, Juliana Hatfield, Kay Hanley and Evan Dando. He has been a fixture at Hot Stove Cool Music fundraiser concerts, playing guitar in Peter Gammons’ all-star band. He’ll find a kindred spirit in Oakland GM Billy Beane, who shares a love of indie, obscure, punk and cutting-edge music.

Evan, over at Firebrand of the American League, is also disappointed about DiNardo's departure:

Count me unhappy with the move. Nick DeBarr, our Rule 5 Draft pick this year, will definitely not make the team. In my opinion, DiNardo is better than Javier Lopez, and we also just signed J.C. Romero and have one of my favorites, Craig Breslow, on the roster. I was a fan of DiNardo, as he was a good guy and I thought could eventually have a nice run of being a solid middle reliever. He still has a great chance at having that run, but he’ll have to do it donning green and gold now.

The Mighty Quinn Machine doles out a bit of trivia of which I was unaware:

DiNardo was the first former Brooklyn Cyclones player to get a World Series ring.

And Graham from Brookline? 

"From Dallas, Texas, the flash  --  apparently official. The Lenny DiNardo blog died at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time  --  a half hour ago."

P.S. If you're looking for a really funny sports blog, check Chris from Westboro's Your Fantasy Team Sucks. If you're looking for entertaining, insightful political, social, and rock commentary, check out Graham from Brookline's The Massachusetts Liberal.

 

Sayonardo

BEANE OUTSMARTS EPSTEIN.

LENNY CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS.

RED SOX NATION MOURNS.

I blame myself -- this would have never happened if I had blogged more regularly.

Take Care, DiNardo.

Good luck in Oakland.

Goodbye Bronson...

They pitched together. They rocked together. The babysat the World Series Tropy together.

But today, Bronson Arroyo is a Cincinnati Red. On a personal level - most Sox fans are probably a little aghast. The guy took a hometown discount to stay with the team, and their response was thanks, but now we have too many pitchers...

On the Lenny level, he's probably upset that his closest friend on the team is gone. But that said, with Bronson out of the picture (read: bullpen), that opens up another spot...and I would have to think that Lenny takes that spot to start the season. Comments?

On an unrelated level, the Sox will never get another hometown discount. Ever. Turns out that Johnny Damon knew what he was doing after all.

To make Bronson feel better, pick up his CD (Lenny is on backup vocals).

2d Round of Cuts: Bye-Bye Breslow

Well, Lenny Nation, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Yesterday (St. Patty's Day), the Sox pared their major league camp down to 40 players.  Among those reassigned to Pawtucket? Breslow, Bumatay, and Seibel. Those are three of the non-roster invitee, left-handed relief pitchers we had identified as the major competition for the big league job. The remaining 2 lefties? DiNardo & Holtz.

Edes is high on Holtz and seems to think that Lenny will end up as a Starter in Pawtucket:

There are only two lefthanded relievers still in camp: Lenny DiNardo, who is scheduled to start today against the Blue Jays and could wind up in Pawtucket's starting rotation, and Mike Holtz, the 33-year-old journeyman who pitched in Japan last season. Holtz has made an impression by striking out 12 and walking just one in six innings.

It is true that Lenny has been starting a lot more than I had expected - including today. A strong performance could bump him ahead of Holtz. Then again, who the hell knows. This could just be Edes talking out of his ass. Laytah!

1st Round of Cuts/Wells Factor

Well, the good news out of Fort Myers today is that Lenny survived the first round of cuts which were made today. Lefties Jon Lester and Abe Alvarez were optioned to Pawtucket, along with Edgar Martinez, David Pauley, and Jermaine Van Buren.  This wasn't really surprising -- the real surprise would be if DiNardo actually was sent down this early.

The other big news (from last week) was that David Wells decided that it was in his best interest to act like he enjoys Boston and his huge success at Fenway.  This throws our previous analysis to the wind...and throws a possible wrench into Lenny's prospects for making the team early on this year. (how many other cliches can I *throw* into this paragraph?).

Consider that the Francona may only take 10 pitchers into opening day (due to an open schedule during the first week). If that's the case, Arroyo and Papelbon are likely to end up in the bullpen...which bumps another guy out of the major league club. Here's how it's looking right now:

Starters: (I'm way into this rotation)
Beckett
Wakefield
Schilling
Wells
Clement

Bullpen:
Arroyo
Papelbon
Foulke (possible - could be held out to continue rehab)
Timlin
+1 (and then another 2 after the first weeks of the season)

The Plus-One/Three?:
DiNardo
Riske (shelled this spring - 10.80 ERA in 4 games)
Seanez (shelled - 15.75 ERA in 4 games)
Tavarez (has pitched one inning for the DR, allowed 3 runs on 3 hits)
Meredith
Breslow (not currently on the roster)

The good news (though I'm sure I'm reading way too much into this) is that the RedSox.com depth chart lists Lenny ahead of Tavarez and Seanez, though behind Riske.  However, I really think that you need to come into the season with at least ONE lefty in the bullpen. Now that Alvarez and Lester are serving more time in Pawtucket, Wells is the only other lefty on big league club.

If they go with Lenny, he'll be the only non-closer, non-meant-to-be-starter, not named Timlin in the bullpen.  He'll get a lot of chances in that case.

He's got a Contract, anyway.

Sox reported that they signed Lenny and 15 others to a contract for the 2006 season.  No info on how much the man's making, though...